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This Easy Chicken in Tomato Sauce recipe is fast, fresh and healthy! Juicy seared chicken breasts covered with tomato sauce…with just a touch of cream to make it silky and delicious!
Chicken breasts do not have to be boring…I repeat, not boring! We eat so much chicken around here I’m surprised we don’t grow feathers and cluck. But it’s lean, quick cooking and a canvas for just about anything!
This is one of our favorite week night meals. We use canned tomatoes, which you probably already have in your pantry and serve it along side a bit of spaghetti or rice.
I was feeling skinny and decided to use a bit of cream. 1/8 of a cup is all it takes. We used heavy cream but half and half will do the trick. Or just omit entirely and go basic. Either way, you are going to love this easy ONE PAN MEAL!
How to make this Tomato Sauce and Chicken Dinner:
Sear your chicken using my quick method. Rub the oil right on the chicken rather than pour excess oil into the pan. Much less splatter and less fat in the pan.
The trick to perfectly seared chicken is to NOT TOUCH IT until it is ready. It will tell you when it’s time, chicken is so smart. If you try to turn it and it sticks.. it’s not ready. Pretty simple. Once you try this technique you will never go back to adding oil directly to the pan.
Remove the chicken after searing. It will not be completely cooked but will continue it’s journey in the tomato sauce.
Now add a tablespoon of olive oil into the skillet to saute your onion and garlic. Add your tomato puree and roasted red tomatoes and bring to a simmer.
Once your tomato sauce has been simmering for a bit, add your Italian herbs, salt ,pepper and that bit of cream. Taste for seasoning! Salt? Pepper? It will vary based on how much salt your canned tomatoes have…so tasting is the only way!
Place your seared partially cooked chicken back in the skillet to finish cooking. Chicken is perfect at 165 degrees. If you don’t have a digital thermometer put it on your list of must haves! It’s cheap and cheerful and will help you from overcooking all chicken, steak and fish.
We like to serve this with a side of spaghetti or rice and a simple side salad.
We have been making this dish for years and have yet to get tired of it!
Great add-ins are chopped carrot, peppers and roasted red peppers.
A few of our favorite chicken breast recipes are this simple Chicken Breasts with Easy Mushroom Pan Sauce
or this Seared Chicken in Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Sauce that you mix up in a blender using store bought jarred roasted red peppers! It’s one of my personal favorites!
To Easy Chicken Dinners!
Clink!
Kathi
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Hey and check out this video of us making this easy one pan meal!
Easy Chicken in Tomato Sauce
This one skillet 30 minute dinner will become one of your go to week night meals! Made with quick cooking chicken breasts and store bought canned tomatoes with just a hint of cream!
4.80 from 50 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Servings: 4
Author: Kathi & Rachel
Ingredients
- 4 boneless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 3 large garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 14 ounce can crushed tomatoes tomato sauce can be substituted
- 1 14 ounce can roasted diced tomatoes, drained
- 1/8 cup heavy cream or half and half
- 2 teaspoons italian seasoning or 1 tsp dried basil and oregano
- salt and pepper to taste
- 12 ounces cooked spaghetti or rice prepared according to package directions
Instructions
Heat large skillet on medium high heat.
While skillet heats, rub chicken breasts with olive oil and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper.
Place prepared chicken into hot skillet and do not touch for 3-4 minutes or until chicken releases easily from the pan and forms a nice crust. Flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes until brown. (chicken may not be fully cooked at this point but will continue to cook in the sauce).
Remove seared to chicken to a plate and set aside.
Reduce heat to medium. Add one tablespoon of olive oil. Add onion and saute until translucence. 3-4 minutes. Add chopped garlic and cook an additional minute.
Add crushed tomatoes, drained diced roasted tomatoes, heavy cream and italian seasoning . Bring to a simmer. Add chicken back to pan and simmer for 20 minutes or until chicken reaches 165 degrees.
Serve chicken and sauce with rice or pasta if desired.
Notes
Use our easy method to sear chicken breasts.
Nutrition
Calories: 287kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 76mg | Potassium: 319mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 220IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 1.3mg
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